Coking-furnace and conveyer therefor.



L. L. SUMMERS. COKING FURNAGE AND CONVEYER THEREFOR. L w j APPLIUATION FILED MAR.z'51o9. 19039544 Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

v La L. SUMMERS. COKIN@ FURNAGE AND ACONVEYLR THEREFOR.

APPLIQATION FILED MAR. 25, 1909. m Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Mmm m Wwf/ff L. L. SUMMERS.

GOKING FURNAOE AND GONVEYBR THBREFOR.

APPLIGATION FILED M125, 1909. .n

PHIIIG. SQP'. 19, 1911.

'I SHEETS-SHEET 3,

zw/MM www@ L. L. SUMMERS. Guxme mismos 'AND commun THBREPOR. APPLIATIOH FILED MAB. 25, 1909.

190,035,544 Y Patented Sept. 319, 3911.

'I B HEETE-SHEET ...l www L. L. SUMMERS. GO'KING URNAGE AND GoNvB-YBR THBREPOR.

Pateted Sept. 19,7 1911.

7 SHEMSLSHEBT 5.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25. 1909.

L. L. SUMMERS. COKING FURNAG AND OONVEYER THEBBFOR.

APPLIOATION FILED MAB. 25. 1909. I I.

Patented Sept. 19, 19H.

L. 11..'sUM1v1ERs. GDKING- FURNAGE AND GONVEYER THERBFOR'.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1909..

Patented sept. 19, 19111.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

45 vbers at their'opposite ends.

UNITED sTATEs rnTENT oEErcE.

LELAND L. SUMMERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOR T CONTINUOUS PROCESS y COKE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

COKING-FURNACE AND CONVEYR THEREFOR.

Application filed March 25, 1909. Serial No. 485,594.

REISSUED To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, LELAND L. SUMMERS, a 'citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county ot' Cook andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coking-Furnaces .and Conveyers Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

vThe object of my invention is to provide a coking oven in which la continuous coking process may be conducted, and relates more particularly to the means for conveying the material through the retorts, and the means for applying power to the conveyers of-a series or battery of retorts.

Other objects and advantages of my iniproved furnace wlll appear from'tlie following descriptlon and clalms, taken 1n connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l isI a side elevation of a furnace constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a plan view.

2,3v Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line t of Fig.`2. Fig. 5 is' a transverse section on the line 'of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a horizontal se'ctin of one end of' the furnace on the line 6 of Fig. 7, the furnacev being shown 3 em )t Fie. 7 is a trahsverse section on the 0 s view 0f the conveyer and contiguous part of tl1ereto`rt. Figa 11 is an enlarged detail vertical section corresponding to the righthand end of Fig. 2.v

I n the improved furnace illustrated, the

40 retorts arearranged in horizontal pairs With v a continuous conveyer operating in a continuous circuit therethrough. As illustrated, the retorts are also arranged in vertical pairs with common feeding and discharge Vcham- The 'arrangement of the continuous conveyer mechanism, however, is independent of the arrangement ofythe retorts in vert-ical pairs with common ffceding and discharge chambers, arid the 'l two features may be utilized separately or together, .as desired. When used together,

however, economies are secured in the heatj, ing otl the retortsand iii the actuation of the conveyer mechanism.

In the presentinstance l have shown eight Specication of Letterslatent.

intenten sept. 19, 191i.

retorts arranged in two furnaces side by side with common actuating mechanism for the conveyers mounted upon a crane which spans the furnaces and is adapted to move from one to the other as occasion requires lin the feeding of the material through the retorts. The crane also carries hoppers coacting with hoppers upon thel furnaces for the purpose of delivering coal thereto.

` The conveyer mechanism comprises a series of disconnectedrelements l, preferably taking the form of tire-brick tiles and lying side by side in theretorts and forming ai,

movable floor therein. In order to facilitate the movement of the lconveyer elements l through the retorts, I provide rails 2 which, preferably, consist of watercooled pipes seated at the base of undercutV recesses 3 in the side walls of the retort. The tiles l are of greater width than the main portion of the retort and project into the recesses 3,- where they rest upon the rails 2. lThe tiles l are pushed through each retort in a conv tinuo'us line, pnuematic cylinders 4, or other power mechanism, being mormtedupon the crane 5 for this purpose. VAt their inlet ends, the retorts` are provided with hoppers (i which discharge int-o `receiving chambers t". The floor of the upper retort, as shown in Figs. 2 and l1, projects into the 'receiving chamber C, formingjwhat may be termed a feeding bridge 8. Above the bridge 8 is a shield 9, and the ram 10 operated by the lcylinder 4 enters the space between the bridge 8 and shield 9 and. acts upon the conveyer tiles l to forcev them endwise through the retort. When the retorts are arranged in vert-ica' tiers,-as shown in Fig.

2-tlie bridge 8 is arranged as described for the purpose of leaving space for the coal to 4fall through to -the lower conveyer. The

outer end ofthe lower conveyer is .protected by a shield l1 projecting inwardly from the outer wall of `the receiving chamber, and the ram 12 operated by the cylinder 13'1s provided with a head 14 cutaway at its outer end to forma recess 15 in which the conveyor elements lareA received and forced through the lower retort, the shoulder 17 acting to transmit pressure to the conveyer. That part of thel mechanism relating to the'upper retorts,'as described in the preceding paragraph, is shown in plan in Fig.

(i, which is a section taken just `below the shield il. It will he understood vthatinechanism similar to that above described in connection with the upper retort, namely,-cyl

inder '4, ram 10, bridge 8 and shield 9, is located at the right-hand end of the retort A which is partially shown in Fig. 6, and atthe left-hand ofretort B, as-illustrated lin that view. This mechanism serves to force the conveyer elements in a continuous line throughthe retortsA and B in opposite 'directions.- In order to-complete the movement of the'conveyer elements in a continuous circuit through the two retorts A and B,

means are provided for moving said ele- Inents transversely `from one retort to the fot-her. This transverse movement is eii'ected through the conveyer passage -18 extending the retort to a. bridge 20which spans the discharge .chamber and is spaced away from the stationary floor of the retort. The. roof "of the retort is carried downwardly linto the discharge chamber to form a scraper 21 just above the bridge 20, although. it is obvious that this' scraper may be otherwise construct- Isa ed. i Upon reference to-Fig. 2, it will be ap vparent that pressure communicated by the ram 10 to the row of -conveyer elements 1 will force these elements through the retort in a continuous line. The ram 10, however,

.is utilized only for forcing the conveyer elements until the end one reaches the end ofV the stationary loor of the retort at the discharge chamber D. At this point,l`it is desirable to separate the end conveyer element from the others and move it individually across the discharge chamber to the space betweenthe bridge 20A and the scraper 21. In so doing, the material is scraped from the conveyer element and permitted to fall through the discharge 'chamber upon the conveyer'22 in t-he quenching pit 23. This individual movement of the conveyer elevments is etfectedby means of theV mechanism actuated by vthe cylinder 4 shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The specific embodiment of the inventionthere'illustrated comprises a plunger rod 24 secured to the plunger operating in the cylinder. To the outer end of the plunger rod 24 is secured a cross head 25 carrying gripper arms 26 which extend through apertures in the wall of the receiving chamber. f The gripper larms 26-' as shown in detail in Fig. S-are provided with heads 27, the inner faces of which are inclined as shown at 28.A The gripper arms 26 have a normal tension toward each. other, and when thrust inwardly by e action of the plunger bar 24, the incliner; 28, riding y against the end-tile, cause the arms to spread until the abrupt shoulders 29 at the bases of the heads 27 pass the shoulders 30 on the .tile 1. As illustrated, each tile 1 is formed with a rectangular recess at each corner,

`thus forming the shoulders'30 and spaces into whichthe heads 27 of the gripper arms 70 lmay spring. As soon as the gripper arms have assumed'the position shown' in Fig. 6,3-, the valves controlllng the pneumatic or Vhy-` draulic mechanism are properly set to draw the plunger rod 24 away from the receiving 75 chamber, thus drawing the end tile 1 outward to a'position over the bridge 20 and opposite the conveyer passage 18.A This I movement not only properly positions the tile for its movement through the -conveyer passage, but also, by the 'coaction of theN scraper 21,` shown in Fig. 2 Vefectually removes all. of the coke thereirom. A cylinder31 at each end of therpair of retorts is provided with a plunger 32 which passes 85 through an aperture in the *side 'wall of. the receiving chamber opposite the bridge 20. As shown in Fig. 7, a single cylinder 31 may be equipped with two plungers 32 adapted to act simultaneously upon conveyer" elements in the upper and lower pair of retorts. As soon as the conveyer ti e 1 is posi- .tioned over the bridge 20, the plunger 32 is moved outward by the operator, 'thus foreA ing the tile 1 through the passage 18, shown 95 in Fig. 6, to the receiving chamber of the other retortl of the related pair. Upon passing through the passage 18, the tile 1 is received inthe space between the shield 9, shown in Fig. 11, andthe feeding bridfre 8, the remainder o'f the tiles in retort B aving been moved suiciently by the plunger 10 to aiord space for the extrance of the tile entering through the passage 18. Thereupon, the row of tiles in the retort B is 1015 moved to the right, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6, by means of the plunger 10,

-and the end tile at'the right in retort B is seized by gripping apparatus similar to that shown at the left of retort A in Fig. 6 and 110 moved between the bridge 20, at the rightof the retort B, and the' coacti-ng scraper, after which said tile is moved transversely to the retort A in the manne` above described.

The mechanism a ove described constitutes a continuouscnveye'r acting in a eircuit through two retorts, and provides means for feeding coal to the conveyer at one end of each retort and stripping the coke therefrom at the opposite end. As will be readily understood, the two retorts, constituting a horizontal pair, 'are oppositely arranged, the material moving throu h them in opposite directions andthe feed en of any one of the retorts being adjacent the dis- `charge end of the other retort. AIn Fig. 4,

the receiving chambers are lettered C and the discharge chambers D, thi.' vipw showing the conveyer mechanism for one of the lower pairs ot' retorts.` 134g f trol of an operator in the house 35, as may `The conveyer 'mechanism for the lower pairs of retorts is similar to that above described in connection with the upper retorts,

except that at the feeding end the conveyer elements, after being moved transversely through the conveyer passages 8, are received in the recess 15 at the end of the plunger head 14 and beneath the stationary shield 11 which projects inwardly from the outer wall of the receiving chamber. The material fed to the hopper 6 shown in Fig. 11 falls through the space between the bridge 8 and the outer wall of the receiving chamber upon the shield 11, whence it spreads inwardly upon the conveyer elements 1 of the lower series. The controlling Ameans-for the plunger actuating mechanism is preferably located in a compartment located upon the crane 5, 'as shown in F ig. 1. W'hen the actuating power is compressed vair, or when hydraulic mechanism is employed, the cont-rolof theconveyers may be efectuated by `valves under the conalso the movement of the crane from one retort to another by proper motor mechanism. Hoppers 36 upon the crane may receive the coal from any suitably arranged delivery apparatus and transmit. it to the lac hoppers 6 of the retorts.

In connection with the conveyer mechanism illustrated, I have shown means for carrying out an improved colring process devised by me, in which gases distilled from material at a comparatively low temperature are conducted lthrough highly heated coke,

the purpose of this operation being to form a coherent coke from coals which. do not v yield, such a coke under ordinary treat ment. I have found in practice that the gases vdistilled at a comparatively low temperature, and rich in carbon, upon being passed through highly heated coke near the discharge end of the retort, are dissociated,'

and that the liberated carbon deposited upon and in the highly heated coke' forms a oementing agent which results in the formation of a tough and coherent product. The

retorts illustrated in the drawings are heated by means of a furnace 36, the products of combustion from which are conducted through ducts 37 above the retorts and ducts 88 between the upper and lower retorts,

p During the passage of the material through the retorts from end to end,v hea-t isabsorbed from the gases 1n the ducts 37 and 38 and the material near the discharge ends of the retorts, owing to the more prolonged action of the heaterl retort thereom'is at a higher teml'ierature than the n'laterial at the charging end. The material in the hoppers at the charging ends of the r torts serves to et'ectually seal the inlets, and th dis 'harge chambers are sea-led either by ali/vater seal or inany suitable manner, thus preventing entrance of atmospheric oxygen yinto the retorts, and also preventing escape of the distilled gases, except in the manner about to be described.

The roofs -of the lower retorts near their discharge ends are provided with openings 39, shown in Fig. 2 and in .detail in Fig. 9.

These openings register with openings 40 in,

form of notches 41 in their edges and angular recesses at their corners, and through these apertures the gases distilled in the lower oven pass upward through thel highly heated coke at the discharge end of the upper oven. apparent that the gases distilled at the righthand, or lowv temperature end of the lower oven, have no means of escapeexcept by passing forward in the direction of the arrows to the openings'39, and thence upward through the highly heated coke inthe upper retort, from which they escape through the outlet pipe 42 to the atmosphere, or to such treating or storing apparatus as may be used.

One of the difculties incident to the formation of coke in a horizontal oven heated from an arch above the coke arises from the fact that the'shrinkage of the material as the col'iing process progresses results in drawing the coke away from 'the source of heat atl the ,top of the retort, thereby leaving a lspace which interferes with the eective transmission of heat from the arch tofthe coke. If the gases bedrawn off through the roof of the retort the direction of movement of the gases, bein the transmission o hea-t to thecoke by conduction through the gases as a medium, and, further, the gases are-conducted aWMLQm the retort without imparting their own heat to the contents of the retort. On the other hand, a still body of gas above thecoke does not form an efficient agent for the transmission of hea-t downward from the arch. In the operation of my improved oven, how- Referring to Fig. 2, it will be upward, is adverse toever, these difficulties are largely overcome.

In the form of oven illustrated, the gases distilled at the charging ends, C, of the lower ovens pass upward through the highly heated .coke at the discharge ends ofthe upper ovensy and the heat formed by the dissociation ot the hydrocarbon contained in fthe gases 1s imparted to the coke at the discharge ends Iofthe upper ovens, thereby intensifying the temperature at that point.

I would have it. understood that I do not limit my invention tothe precisefbonstruction and arrangement of parts shown in the ing said elements through said retorts, and

from one retort to the other ina continuous path. i

3. In adevice of'theelass described, a pluraiity of retorts, a conveyer in said retorts comprising separate elements, means y for moving said elements collectively through each of said retorts, and means for separating part of said elements in one retort from the remainder and moving said separated elements to another of said retorts.

4. In a coking furnace, two retorts arranged side by side, a conveyer floor -in said retorts, said iioor comprising separate eiement-s, means for moving said elements in opposite directions through said retorts, and means at the ends of said retorts for moving said elements from one retort to the other.

5. In a coking furnace, two retorts arranged side by side, passages between said retorts adjacenttheir ends, a conveyor f ioor -in said ret-Orts, said floor comprising separate elements, means for moving said eiements in opposite directions through said retortsfand means for moving said elements from one retort to the other through said passages.`v

v6. In a coking furnace, two retorts arrangedside by side, a conveyer` fioor in said retorts, said conveyer fioorycomprising separate elements, a feeding chamber and a dis,-

charge chamber at each end of said furnace opposite'the ends of said retorts, said chambers at each end of the furnace being provided with a connecting passage, discharge V bridges extending across said discharge chambers,.feeding bridges extending across 'said` feeding chambers, means for moving said .conveyer ,elements endwiseof said retortsfand-ineansfer moving said elements through said passages from said discharge to said fedin chambers. f

7. Ina ,coklng furnace, two retorts arp ranged side by side," a conveyer floor' insaid retorts, said conveyer floor comprising separate elements, a feeding chamber and a discharge chamber at each end of said furnace opposite the ends'of said retorts, said chambers at each end of the furnace being pro- 'e 'vided with connecting passage, discharge .65 bridges `-extending across said discharge `torts to said discharge bridges, means for chambers, Scrapers above said discharge bridges, feeding bridges extending across said feeding chambers, means for moving said conveyer elements endwise of said retorts, and means for moving said elements through said passagesv from said discharge to said feeding chambers.

8. In a coking furnace, two retorts ar- -ranged side by side, a conveyer iioorin said retorts, said conveyer floor comprising separate elements, a feeding chamber and a discharge chamber at each-end of said furnace opposite the ends of said retorts, said chambers at each end of the furnace being provided with a connecting passage, discharge bridges across said discharge chambers, feeding bridges extending across said feeding chamber, supports for said conveyer elcments extendingfrom the ends of said re- VB5 moving said conveyor elements endwise of said retorte, and means for moving said elements through said passages from said discharge to said feeding chambers.

9. In a coking furnace, two retorts arranged side by side, a series of tiles forming a conveyer ioor in said rctorts, said retorts being connected by passages adjacent their ends, and power actuated plungers for moving said tiles in opposite directions through said retorts and Vfor moving said tiles through said passages from one retort to the other.

1'0. In a coking furnace, two retorts arranged side by side, a -stationa-l'yliioor and a conveyer floor in each of said retorts, said conve er Hoor comprising separate elements, a ldisciarge chamber at onel end of each retort, said discharge chambers being` at opposite endsl of said retonts, each discharge ychamber communicating with the receiving end of the other lretort through a conveyer passage, a bridge extending across each discharge chamber and spaced from the stationary iioor of the retorts, a support for said conveyer elements, said support being of open structureV to 'permit discharge of material therethrough, means for moving said conveyer elements'in a .continuoi1s \line through said retorts, means for movingla' single element from the stationary'ii of each of said retortsto 4`one of said bridges, and means for moving said elements through said passages. l

v11. In a coking furnace, tworetortstir-.120 ranged side by side, a stationary fioor and a conveyer floor in each of said retorts,said conveyer fioor comprising separate elements, I

.a discharge chamber at one end of each charge chamber and spaced from the 'station- 130 of tiles forming a conveyer floor in said retort, means for moving said tiles 4in a continuous line through said retort, and means for gripping the end tile and drawing it away from the remainder of the series.

13. In a colting furnace, a retort having grooves at the bases of its side walls, a series of tiles projecting into said grooves, means for pushing said tiles through said re- .tort, and means for gripping the end tile and drawing it away from the others of the series.

la. In a colcing furnace, a retort having grooves at the bases of its' side walls, guide rails in said grooves, a seriesof disconnected conveyor tiles projecting into said grooves and resting* on said rails, and meansl for moving said tiles.

l5. In a Coking furnace, a retort, a series of tiles forming a conveyeri floor in said retort, said tiles being provided with shoulders, a power actuated plunger for pushing said tiles through said 1'etort,.a I second power actuated plunger, and a gripper secured to said second plunger and adapted to coperate with the shoulders on said tiles to draw the end one away .from the remainder of the series.

1G. In a eolring furnace, two rctorts ar-v ranged sidc by side, a stationary floor and a eonveyer tloor in each f said retorts, said conveyer floor comprising separate elements, a discllarge chamber at one end of' each retort, said discharge chambers being at opposite ends of said retorts, a receiving chamber at the end of each retort opposite its charge of material therethrough, a recciv across each discharge chamber and spaced from the stationary Hoor of the retort, a support for said 'conveyer elements, said support being of ojieirstructine to permit dis charge of material therethrougl'i, a receiving bridge projecting from lhe stationary floor of each retort into its receiving cha mber, each `receiving chamber connnunicating with the adjacent discharge chamber through a conveyer passage just above the bridges therein, means for moving` said conveyer elements in a continuous line in said retorts, means for moving a single elelncnt from the stationary Hoor of each of said retorts to the adjacent discharge chamber bridge, and means for moving said element from 'the discharge chamber bridge through the coacting passage to the adjacent receiving chamber bridge.

17. In a coking furnace, retorts arranged in vertical and horizontal pairs,each vertical pair having a common receiving chamber at one-end and a' common discharge chamber at the opposite end, the receiving and discharge chambers of adjacent vertical pairs being oppositely disposed, each discharge chamber communicating with the adjacent receiving chamber through passages adjacent the ends of the rctorts, a 'conveyer for each horizontal pair of retorts, and means for moving said conveyers `in a circuit through said retorts and passages.

1S. In a coking furnace, a pair of retorts arranged one above the other, a common discharge chamber at one end of said retorts and a common receiving chamber at the other end, a bridge projecting from the Hoor of the upper retort part way across said receiving chamber, a shield above said bridge, a eonveyer comprising 'separa-te elements, and means for moving each element trans-A versely into the space between said bridge and shield and for moving said elements endwise of said upper retort.

19. In a lcoking furnace, a pair of retorts arranged one above the other, a common dis- 'charge chamber at one end of said retorts and a common receiving chamber at the other end, a bridge projecting from the-floor of the upper retort partl way across said receiving chamber, a shield above said bridge, a conveyor con'iprising separate elements, means for moving each element transversely into the space between said bridge and shield and for moving said elements endwise of said upper retort, a shield projecting inwardly from the outer Wall of said receiving chamber part way to said lower retort, a plunger operating beneath said shield and spaced away therefrom at its inner end, a second convcyer comprising separate elcments, means for moving said elements transversely into the space between said plmiger and bridge, and means for actuating said plunger to move said elements endwise of said lower retort.

20. In adevice of' the class described, a4 series of retorts, a crane spanning said re torts and movablel from one to another, conveyers in said retorts, and means mounted on said crane for actuating said conveyers.

21. In a device of the class described, a

series of retorts, a movable conveyer'tloor in each retort, a crane movable from one retort to another, and power mechanism' and means upon said cranefor moving said elements collectively through said retorts and for separating part of said elements from the remaining elements.

23. Ina device of the class described, a

" series of retorts arranged side by side, con- -veyers 1n said retorts comprising a lseries of separate elements, a crane' movable from one retort to another, means upon said crane for moving said elements endwise through said retorts, and means for movingsaid elements transversely Afrom vone retort to another.

24. In a device of the class described, a series of retorts arranged side by side, conveyers in said retorts comprising a series of separate elements, a crane movable from one retort to another, means upon said crane for collectively moving said elements endwise through said ret orts and for separating part of said elements from the remainder thereof, and means for moving said elements transversely from one retort to another.

Q5. In a device of the class described, a series of retorts, conveyers in said retorts, a crane movable from one retort to another, convcyers in said retorts, and fluid pressure cylinders' and plungers and controlling mechanism therefor mounted on said crane and operatively related 4to said conveyers.

26. In a device ofythe class described, a series of retorts, conveyers in said retorts, hoppers at the charging ends ofsaid retorts, a traveling crane, and-Hoppers and actuating mechanism for said y,conve'yers mounted.

on said crane.

27'. In a device of the class described, a series of retorts, ,said retortsvbeing arranged in pairs vertically and horizontally, connecting conveyer passages between the retorts of each horizontal pair,l common charging and common discharging chambers for each vertical pair of retorts', conveyers compris- 'charge end, thereby tilled from the materialin one of said re c ends, and one of said retorts having an outletadjacent its dischar e' end, thereby permitting gases distilled trom the materialin one of 'said retorts to `pass through the material in the other retort.

29. In a coking furnace, two retorts, one

.above the other, means for feeding material therethrough from end to end, means for heating said retorts, said retorts being sealed at their ends and connected by passages adjacent their disc'hargeends-,and the upper retort`-having an outlet adjacent its dispermitting gases distorts to pass through the material in the other retort.

l 30.- In a. device of the class'described, two retorts, means for 4feeding material therethrough from end to end, means for heating said retorts, said retorts being sealed at their ends,and means for compelling gases distilledadjacent the charging end of one re.

tort to pass through'tle material adjacent the discharge end of the other retort.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

LELAND L. SUMMERS.

Witnesses ANNA L. WAL'roN, VALTER A. SCOTT. 

